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1999

in Music

Albums

18

Artists

20

Milestones

33

Notable Releases

ALBUM1999

On the 6

Jennifer Lopez

Her debut album that propelled Lopez to wider fame with the US Billboard Hot 100 number-one single 'If You Had My Love' and established her as a crossover artist blending Latin, R&B, and hip hop.

SINGLE1999

If You Had My Love

Jennifer Lopez

Her debut single that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, launching her music career and exposing her to a massive international audience.

ALBUM1999

Alabaster Box

CeCe Winans

Released on her own label PureSprings Gospel, featuring production by Fred Hammond and guest appearance by Take 6.

ALBUM1999

Mountain High... Valley Low

Yolanda Adams

Breakthrough mainstream album that reached 2× Platinum status, won a Grammy Award, and featured the hit singles "Yeah," "Fragile Heart," and "Open My Heart."

ALBUM1999

...Baby One More Time

Britney Spears

Debut album that became the best-selling album ever by a teenage artist, selling 30 million copies worldwide and spawning the iconic title track.

ALBUM1999

Sacred Arias

Andrea Bocelli

A classical album containing exclusively sacred music that became the biggest-selling classical album by any solo artist in history and earned Bocelli a Guinness World Record.

ALBUM1999

Christina Aguilera

Christina Aguilera

Her self-titled debut album that topped the US Billboard 200 and produced three US number-one singles including 'Genie in a Bottle' and 'What a Girl Wants'. The album sold over 17 million copies worldwide and catapulted her to global fame.

SINGLE1999

Genie in a Bottle

Christina Aguilera

Her breakthrough lead single that topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks and became the second best-selling single of 1999. The song achieved international success, topping charts in over 20 countries.

SINGLE1999

Staying Power

Barry White

White's final hit single winning two Grammy Awards

ALBUM1999

The Grass Is Blue

Dolly Parton

Bluegrass-inspired album that won Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album, revitalizing her career in the late 1990s

SINGLE1999

You'll Be in My Heart

Phil Collins

Film score composition for Disney's Tarzan; won Academy Award for Best Original Song

Significant Milestones

On the 6 Album Release

Debut
Jennifer Lopez

Lopez released her debut album On the 6, which achieved massive success with 'If You Had My Love' becoming a number-one hit and establishing her as a major recording artist.

Founded PureSprings Gospel

Debut
CeCe Winans

Established her own recording company, gaining creative control and releasing "Alabaster Box" as the first album on the label.

Mainstream Breakthrough

Grammy Win
Yolanda Adams

Released *Mountain High... Valley Low* on Elektra Records with major producers, achieving 2× Platinum status and Grammy Award win.

...Baby One More Time album and single debut at number one

Debut
Britney Spears

Her debut album reached number one on Billboard 200 and sold over 10 million copies worldwide in a year, becoming the biggest-selling album by a teenage artist.

Grammy Award Nomination for Best New Artist

Grammy Win
Andrea Bocelli

At age 40, Bocelli received a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, gaining recognition in the international music industry.

Guinness World Record with Sacred Arias

Achievement
Andrea Bocelli

Bocelli simultaneously held the top three positions on the US Classical Albums charts with Sacred Arias at number one, Aria: The Opera Album in second place, and Viaggio Italiano in third place.

Breakthrough with Debut Album

Debut
Christina Aguilera

Released her self-titled debut album that topped the US Billboard 200 and produced three number-one singles. This marked her rise to global fame and established her as a major pop force.

41st Grammy Awards Historic Achievement

Grammy Win
Lauryn Hill

Hill received ten nominations and won five awards including Album of the Year for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, the first hip-hop album to win this category. She became the first woman to win Album of the Year and set the record for most wins by a female artist in one night.

Time Magazine Cover and Recognition

Debut
Lauryn Hill

Hill became the first rapper to appear on the cover of Time magazine in 1999, cementing her status as a cultural icon and the 'Queen of Hip Hop.' She also made People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People list.

Roots Collaboration Grammy

Grammy Win
Erykah Badu

Featured on The Roots' breakthrough album Things Fall Apart, collaborating on "You Got Me" which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Named Most Successful Female Singer in UK Charts History

Award
Diana Ross

Ross was honored as the most successful female singer in the history of United Kingdom charts based on career hits totals.

Musicians from 1999